Question 5: Short-term Objective C

$4,225,315.00
Fiscal Year: 2010

5SC. Implement and evaluate five models of policy and practice-level coordination among State and local agencies to provide integrated and comprehensive community-based supports and services that enhance access to services and supports, self-determination, economic self-sufficiency, and quality of life for people with ASD across the spectrum and their families, (which may include access to augmentative and alternative communication [AAC] technology), with at least one project aimed at the needs of transitioning youth and at least one study to evaluate a model of policy and practice-level coordination among State and local mental health agencies serving people with ASD, by 2015. IACC Recommended Budget: $25,000,000 over 5 years.

Objective Cumulative Funding Table

IACC Strategic Plan Objective

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Total

Implement and evaluate five models of policy and practice-level coordination among State and local agencies to provide integrated and comprehensive community-based supports and services that enhance access to services and supports, self-determination, economic self-sufficiency, and quality of life for people with ASD across the spectrum and their families, (which may include access to augmentative and alternative communication [AAC] technology), with at least one project aimed at the needs of transitioning youth and at least one study to evaluate a model of policy and practice-level coordination among State and local mental health agencies serving people with ASD, by 2015.

Progress: Progress has been made but the objective is not fully achieved, as it is underfunded and the projects do not cover all of the issues mentioned in the objective.

Remaining gaps, needs and opportunities: Studying services coordination is very difficult and it is hard to define outcomes. State to state dissemination is very limited and fragmented. Also, state policies often are translated to practice very differently in different areas and counties. State and local services programs also suffer from a lack of knowledge in how to engage and sustain community and partnerships. A pairing of existing state and local services programs(including those that may be participating in federally-funded state demonstration programs) with research funding for evaluation would be the most cost-effective way to collect and analyze data about the implementation of models of coordination. For example, building research projects onto existing state demonstration programs and supporting the development of partnerships between academic researchers and state agencies to study models of policy implementation would be ways to advance this type of research.